In an odd set of circumstances the Lions could be without starting kicker Jason Hanson and starting punter Ryan Donahue when they play at Chicago on Sunday. It's too soon to tell.

Hanson came back after the bye week with stitches in his left knee.

Donahue was trying to help out by kicking a field goal at Wednesday's practice when he pulled a quad muscle.

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He did not punt at Thursday's practice, but is hopeful to get back on Friday.

"It's one of those things that happen. I'll try to get back as fast as I can," said Donahue, who is from Chicago.

One reason why punters don't kick and kickers don't punt, is they use different leg muscles and foot angles. Donahue said he probably wasn't totally warmed up.

"I tried to fill in, tried to help the team. It happened, hindsight is 20-20. I'll learn for next time," Donahue said.

While it's clear what happened to him, Hanson has explained to the Lions about the bye week incident that left him with stitches in his left knee. But he's not sharing all the details with everyone.

Hanson said he was on a mini-vacation during the bye week with his family. He wasn't specific about what exactly sent him to the emergency room for stitches.

"I didn't feel I was acting irresponsibly," Hanson said. "I felt, on the risk factor, I felt what was happening was a 1 or 2. I never thought anything could happen that could possibly keep me out of a game."

He kicked field goals on Thursday of the shorter variety and will see how his knee feels for Friday. It's a matter of keeping the stitches intact and the pain managed.

"Here is the official word. I cut my left knee with my family, I have some stitches in it. Honestly I don't remember how many, it was a decent little cut. The point is this, everyone at the Lions knows every detail of what happened and I don't feel like I was irresponsible. I didn't think I was putting myself at any risk when it happened," Hanson said.

"I was with my kids and so the actual details the Lions know and I'm not saying. I don't feel I'm hiding anything, I don't feel like telling the whole story to everybody."

Hanson, who is 17 of 18 on field goals this season, is the team's leading scorer with 77 points.

"I hope to be ready for this week's game, it's terrible timing. I can't believe it happened and, again, I said this to everyone at the Lions, I'm super sorry," Hanson said. "It's a terrible week for this to happen but my guilt level is pretty low. I didn't feel like I was doing anything to hurt the team."

The Lions have tried out two kickers -- Rhys Lloyd and Shayne Graham. They have also tried out punters, but will wait to sign someone until they know the status of Hanson and Donahue.

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